No central contract for Ryder

Jesse Ryder and NZC have agreed to avoid a national contract this year, but Ryder's manager and friend, Aaron Klee, squashed any fears Ryder might be looking at becoming a free agent in the various Twenty20 leagues across the world. The decision was made at Ryder's routine yearly review, a process every contracted New Zealand player goes through.

Ryder, Klee, New Zealand Cricket Players' Association chief Heath Mills, NZC's director of cricket John Buchanan and manager Mike Sandle were present at the review. Outgoing coach John Wright was not. Ryder tweeted the review went on for three hours. He also tweeted, "Looking forward to playing for NZ again when The time is rite."

NZC CEO David White is in England for an ICC meeting, but he said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting. "All of the evidence shows that Jesse is on the right track, both on and off the field, but we're aware that there are still steps to be made. While cricket remains an important part of his life, it is his health and well-being that need to be the primary focus.

"Jesse wants to concentrate on his personal goals without the media pressures, commercial pressures and other demands associated with being a contracted player. This decision is fully endorsed by the NZCPA and NZC."

The outcome of the meeting was hardly unexpected, but there has been speculation around that the various Twenty20 leagues around the world could tempt Ryder into following several West Indies cricketers down the freelance route. Ryder's manager, though, reassured he still wanted to get back to playing for New Zealand.

"He is not playing any cricket at the moment," Klee said. "He is at home. If there are cricket opportunities - it's his job, it's his living - he could look at them. Short, sharp opportunities, but certainly not looking at this as freelance. The IPL was great, it provided him an opportunity to get the wheels back on the track, but Jesse still wants to play for New Zealand. There are certain things he needs to do in the meantime, and if it takes a certain period of time now, it is important to take that opportunity to do that now."

Klee said Ryder didn't yet feel ready to commit to a full-time contract. "If he had accepted a contract you are basically obliged to play," Klee said. "You are basically in a breach of contract if you say, 'No I can't play a certain tour'. Eleven months of the year touring, spent playing, all that time playing cricket, we could end up being where we were a few months ago. We don't want to do that."

Klee said Ryder had made good progress since his one-match suspension for breaking team protocol, and didn't want to undo the good work by hurrying back. Ryder then took a break from all cricket, but has since made a comeback in the IPL. He has also taken professional help, travelling to India with his clinical psychiatrist Karen Nimmo.

"We are on a good track," Klee said. "We need to carry on this track. It was Jesse's idea [to not seek a new contract]. He wants to continue what he is doing, and he has been doing very well. To be able to continue to do that, it's too much of a commitment under the contract."

There is no time frame for Ryder's comeback to national plans. Nor is he asked to come back with certain improvements before he is considered by New Zealand again. "There is nothing like that discussed today," Klee said. "It's very much in Jesse's court. When he feels ready we will communicate that to NZC. The great thing is, they have given Jesse some space to do what he needs to do."

Now this is how Boards deal with their cricketers, not the one of the West Indies

ahsha
on May 31, 2012, 8:27 GMT

He has been hounded into retirement.Now he can earn a nice living playing cricket without the Puritans at NZC micro- managing his very existence.NZC
doesn"t tolerate free spirits.Jesse does not fit in...Cheers Jesse GOODLUCK!

kiwicricketnut
on May 31, 2012, 4:57 GMT

Huge fan of Ryder hope he can get his head space right soon and get back into the black caps, we just don't have the talent in nz to lose cricketers of his quality, a good chance for Flynn to prove his worth but we're just not as strong without Ryder

Witty_Cricketer
on May 31, 2012, 2:15 GMT

New Zealand will be better served by lesser talented-more commited players like Guptil rather than Jesse Ryder, and he is by no means in Martin Crowe's class, so NewZealand just forget about him for some time, if he has the hunger he will come back as a better player.

zphoenixz
on May 30, 2012, 22:15 GMT

His ego is as bloated as his belly I guess. For some one who has scored about 2000 international runs altogether, he has already gone through a lot.
PS: Newzies, be wary of the great Buchanan. He wont leave you guys until the team is in tatters and magically he finds another job with another country to move on which is what baffles me...

on May 30, 2012, 18:34 GMT

Who else can blitz like he does at the top?! even if it is once in a while :)

muski
on May 30, 2012, 16:45 GMT

He is anyday better than the Guptills. He will fire at least once in a while. With NZ Cricket in doldrums, he needs to be persisted- John Buchanan willing!!!!

getsetgopk
on May 30, 2012, 15:20 GMT

He's as good as done at international scene im afraid.

plow
on May 30, 2012, 12:12 GMT

Good luck Jesse. massive fan mate, look after yourself and get back in black again when you're ready.

G-Wyll
on May 30, 2012, 11:50 GMT

Man, Ryder needs to just toughen up and get 10,000 test runs. The article above is like watching an episode of Home and Away.

SICHO
on May 31, 2012, 13:05 GMT

Now this is how Boards deal with their cricketers, not the one of the West Indies

ahsha
on May 31, 2012, 8:27 GMT

He has been hounded into retirement.Now he can earn a nice living playing cricket without the Puritans at NZC micro- managing his very existence.NZC
doesn"t tolerate free spirits.Jesse does not fit in...Cheers Jesse GOODLUCK!

kiwicricketnut
on May 31, 2012, 4:57 GMT

Huge fan of Ryder hope he can get his head space right soon and get back into the black caps, we just don't have the talent in nz to lose cricketers of his quality, a good chance for Flynn to prove his worth but we're just not as strong without Ryder

Witty_Cricketer
on May 31, 2012, 2:15 GMT

New Zealand will be better served by lesser talented-more commited players like Guptil rather than Jesse Ryder, and he is by no means in Martin Crowe's class, so NewZealand just forget about him for some time, if he has the hunger he will come back as a better player.

zphoenixz
on May 30, 2012, 22:15 GMT

His ego is as bloated as his belly I guess. For some one who has scored about 2000 international runs altogether, he has already gone through a lot.
PS: Newzies, be wary of the great Buchanan. He wont leave you guys until the team is in tatters and magically he finds another job with another country to move on which is what baffles me...

on May 30, 2012, 18:34 GMT

Who else can blitz like he does at the top?! even if it is once in a while :)

muski
on May 30, 2012, 16:45 GMT

He is anyday better than the Guptills. He will fire at least once in a while. With NZ Cricket in doldrums, he needs to be persisted- John Buchanan willing!!!!

getsetgopk
on May 30, 2012, 15:20 GMT

He's as good as done at international scene im afraid.

plow
on May 30, 2012, 12:12 GMT

Good luck Jesse. massive fan mate, look after yourself and get back in black again when you're ready.

G-Wyll
on May 30, 2012, 11:50 GMT

Man, Ryder needs to just toughen up and get 10,000 test runs. The article above is like watching an episode of Home and Away.

Tigg
on May 30, 2012, 10:43 GMT

So he can play IPL but not for NZ? If he wants short sharp cricket he could just play limited over or T20 cricekt for New Zealand.

on May 30, 2012, 10:37 GMT

A T20 'free agent'? He's not much good at that right now!!!

Sehwag_Is_Ordinary
on May 30, 2012, 9:29 GMT

LOL great what goes around comes around. His behaviour with Samuels in the middle of a pitch in one PW games was laughable. The question still remains Is he resurrected?

No featured comments at the moment.

Sehwag_Is_Ordinary
on May 30, 2012, 9:29 GMT

LOL great what goes around comes around. His behaviour with Samuels in the middle of a pitch in one PW games was laughable. The question still remains Is he resurrected?

on May 30, 2012, 10:37 GMT

A T20 'free agent'? He's not much good at that right now!!!

Tigg
on May 30, 2012, 10:43 GMT

So he can play IPL but not for NZ? If he wants short sharp cricket he could just play limited over or T20 cricekt for New Zealand.

G-Wyll
on May 30, 2012, 11:50 GMT

Man, Ryder needs to just toughen up and get 10,000 test runs. The article above is like watching an episode of Home and Away.

plow
on May 30, 2012, 12:12 GMT

Good luck Jesse. massive fan mate, look after yourself and get back in black again when you're ready.

getsetgopk
on May 30, 2012, 15:20 GMT

He's as good as done at international scene im afraid.

muski
on May 30, 2012, 16:45 GMT

He is anyday better than the Guptills. He will fire at least once in a while. With NZ Cricket in doldrums, he needs to be persisted- John Buchanan willing!!!!

on May 30, 2012, 18:34 GMT

Who else can blitz like he does at the top?! even if it is once in a while :)

zphoenixz
on May 30, 2012, 22:15 GMT

His ego is as bloated as his belly I guess. For some one who has scored about 2000 international runs altogether, he has already gone through a lot.
PS: Newzies, be wary of the great Buchanan. He wont leave you guys until the team is in tatters and magically he finds another job with another country to move on which is what baffles me...

Witty_Cricketer
on May 31, 2012, 2:15 GMT

New Zealand will be better served by lesser talented-more commited players like Guptil rather than Jesse Ryder, and he is by no means in Martin Crowe's class, so NewZealand just forget about him for some time, if he has the hunger he will come back as a better player.